News South Africa

SA women's hockey team named for UK tour

The South African Hockey Association has released the names of the players who will represent the Investec South African women's hockey team in Scotland and England next month. The SA squad has just completed a three-week training camp in China.
Image by Plate Pictures
Image by Plate Pictures

Head coach Giles Bonnet has said that the Scotland leg of the tour is scheduled to feature a one-off test match against Ireland on 11 June 2013 as well as a four-test series against Scotland on 13, 15, 16 and 18 June.

The team leave Scotland for London on 19 June ahead of the Investec World League semi-finals, which takes place from 22-30 June. The team will possibly play Argentina in a training match in the time between their arrival in London and the start of the semi-finals.

The eight-country London semi-final tournament sees hosts England in Pool B alongside Australia, South Africa and Spain. Pool B will feature Argentina, China, the USA and Italy.

The first eight-country World League semi-final will be played in Rotterdam, The Netherlands from 13-23 June and features current world number one and defending Olympic champions The Netherlands plus Korea, Japan and Chile in Pool A along with New Zealand, Germany, India and Belgium in Pool B.

For all 16 participating teams in the two World League semi-finals, the stakes are high as the top four teams in each event will go through to the eight-team World League finals, which takes place in San Miguel de Tucumán in Argentina in December.

World hockey governing body the International Hockey Federation (FIH) said that the two World League semi-finals will also serve as a qualifier for the 2014 World Cup in The Hague, The Netherlands.

"It is not yet defined how many teams from each of the two semi-finals will make it through to the World Cup as that is largely dependent on the Continental Championships. Needless to say, teams will be eager to finish as high as possible to increase their chance to go to The Hague," said the FIH website.

Investec SA team

Sanani Mangisa (Southern Gauteng), Phume Mbande (Northern Blues), Lenise Marais (KZN Coastal Raiders), Marcelle Keet (Border), Nicolene Terblanche (NB), Illse Davids (Western Province), Shelley Russell (WP), Tarryn Bright (WP), Pietie Coetzee (SG), Quanita Bobbs (WP), Bernie Coston (SG), Dirkie Chamberlain (NB), Jade Mayne (WP), Tanya Britz (Free State), Lilian du Plessis (NB), Izelle Lategan (FS), Kelly Madsen (KCR), Marsha Marescia (SG).

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